Sages and Science

ISRO has successfully launched Aditya L1. On 23rd August 2023, our Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the south pole of the Moon. Indian culture is a good combination of religion and science; the ancient sages made many discoveries that are still relevant in the modern world.

In this blog, we will look at such inventions and works of sages which contributed to modern society.

Aryabhata (Sanskrit: आर्यभट, ISO: Āryabhaṭa) or Aryabhata I (476–550 CE) was the first of the mathematician-astronomer who mentioned that in 3600 Kali Yuga, 499 CE, he was 23 years old) and the Arya-Siddhanta.

In 499 CE, he wrote a text on astronomy and an unparalleled treatise on mathematics called Aryabhatiyam.
He correctly stated that the earth rotates about its axis daily.
He also succeeded in explaining the geocentric model of the Solar System.
He found the calculation of p (Pi) to four decimal places: 3.1416 and the sine table in trigonometry.

Bhaskaracharya (1114-1183 BCE) has been called the greatest mathematician of medieval India.

He concluded that dividing by zero would produce an infinity.
His renowned mathematical works are called Lilavati and Bijaganita.
As per Surya Siddhant, objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth.

Acharya Kanad was an Indian scientist, philosopher, and the founder of the Vaisheshika school of Indian Philosophy.

He wrote a book on his research on the atom and became famous as the Father of Atomic Theory.
Saint Kanad was very interested in knowing the minute details. Due to his sense of service, people started calling him Kanad (Kan- smallest particle)
He was the first person to talk about atoms and molecules.
He said that Atoms is an indivisible particle. The theory occurred in his mind when he observed the smallest particle of rice. He called this Parmanu (Atom).
He proposed that paramanu (atom) is an indestructible particle of matter. He has classified all the objects of creation into nine elements: earth, water, light, wind, ether, time, space, mind, and soul.

Nagarjuna was a great Indian metallurgist and alchemist.

He did his research for around 12 years in chemistry and metallurgy. Textual masterpieces like Ras Ratnakar, Rashrudaya, and Rasebdramangal are his renowned contributions to the science of chemistry.
He also discovered the alchemy of transmuting base metals into gold. He did his experiments, especially on mercury.
He distinguished between the metals and sub-metals and also between solvents and soluble.
He stated that Mercury could dissolve all metals. He also invented the processes of “Distillation” and “Calcinations”.
He was the first person on the planet to use a Mercury as medicine.
As the author of medical books like “Arogyamanjari” and “Yogasar.”
He was Chancellor of the famous University of Nalanda.

Charaka was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in ancient India. He was the Father of Medicine.

He is known as a physician who edited Charaka Samhita, one of the foundational texts of classical Indian medicine and Ayurveda, included under Brhat-Trayi.
His renowned work, the Charak Samhita, is considered an encyclopedia of Ayurveda.
He revealed through his innate genius and inquiries the facts on human anatomy, embryology, pharmacology, blood circulation, and diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, etc.
In the Charak Samhita, he described the medicinal qualities and functions of 100,000 herbal plants.
He has emphasized the influence of diet and activity on the mind and body. He has proved the correlation between spirituality and physical health contributed to diagnostic and curative sciences.
He was the first person to know the concepts of digestion, metabolism, and immunity. A body functions because of three principles or dosha continuously regulating the human system – movement, transformation, and lubrication & stability.

Shushruta is known as the originator of plastic surgery. Acharya Sushruta was a great Indian Physician and was known to be the Father of Surgery or the Father of Plastic Surgery.

He described six varieties of accidental injuries encompassing all parts of the body.
The Sushruta Samhita is one of the most important surviving ancient texts on medicine, and it is considered a foundational text of Ayurveda.
He was the first surgeon who performed complicated surgeries 2600 years ago.
The Sushruta Samhita has 184 chapters containing descriptions of 1,120 illnesses, 700 medicinal plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources, and 57 preparations based on animal sources. It describes thoroughly the surgical techniques of making incisions, extractions of foreign bodies or particles, how to probe, excisions, tooth extraction, how to remove the prostate gland, dilation of Urethral stricture, vesicolithotomy, hernia surgery, how do C-section (Caesarian for baby delivery), laparotomy, management of intestinal obstruction, perforated intestines and accidental perforation of the abdomen with protrusion of omentum and the principle of fracture management.
He also classified eye diseases – cataract surgery.
He performed Rhinoplasty (restoration of a damaged nose) and other challenging operations.
In the ” Sushrut Samhita,” he prescribes treatment for twelve types of fractures and six types of dislocations.
He used 125 types of surgical instruments – scalpels, lancets, needles, Cathers, and rectal speculums; designed from the jaws of animals and birds.
He introduced several stitching methods – the use of horse hair as thread and fibers of bark.

Varahamihira, also called Varaha (born 505, Ujjain, India—died 587, Ujjain) was a philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, and author of the Pancha-siddhantika.

He notes that the Moon and planets are lustrous not because of their light but due to sunlight.
In the Bruhad Samhita and Bruhad Jatak, he revealed his discoveries in geography, constellation, science, botany, and animal science.
In his treatise on botanical science, Varamihir presents cures for various diseases afflicting plants and trees.
Varaha Mihira constructed Meru Stambh (Kutub Minar) 2200 years ago for astronomy research.
Panch Siddhanta holds a prominent place in the phase of astronomy.
He also contributed an encyclopedic Brihat – Samhita that covers the subjects of all human interests like rainfall, astrology, planetary movements, gems, pearls, rituals, etc. He also discovered trigonometric formulas, improved the accuracy of sine tables, and defined the property of zero and the calculation of binomial coefficients. He also succeeded in the fields of hydrology, ecology, and geology.

Patanjali was a great Indian Sage and Author of Sanskrit works. The best of his work is Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are 196 Indian Sutras on Yoga.

The yoga Sutras talk about life and beyond life. In his yoga Sutras, Patanjali explains the eight limbs of yoga for becoming a self-realized person.
He prescribed the control of prana (life breath) to control the body, mind, and soul.
Acharya Patanjali‘s 84 yogic postures effectively enhance the efficiency of the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems.
Yoga has eight limbs where Acharya Patanjali shows the attainment of the ultimate bliss of God in samadhi through the disciplines of yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahara, dhyana, and dharna. The Science of Yoga has gained popularity because of its scientific approach and benefits.
Acharya Patanjali will forever be remembered and revered as a pioneer in the science of self-discipline, happiness, and self-realization.

Acharya Bharadwaj (The pioneer of aviation technology)

The Vymaanika Shaastra contains 3000 shlokas in 8 chapters. The book deals with the operation of ancient vimanas. It includes information on steering, precautions for long flights, protection of the airships from storms and lightning, and how to switch the drive of solar energy or some other form of energy.

He authored the Yantra Sarvasva, includes astonishing and outstanding discoveries in aviation science, space science, and flying machines.

Acharya Kapil (3000 BCE) Father of Cosmology gifted the world with the Sankhya School of Thought, throwing light on the nature & principles of the ultimate Soul (Purusha), primal matter (Prakruti) & creation.

He asserted that Prakruti, with the inspiration of Purusha, is the mother of cosmic creation & all energies.
He gifted the world with the Sankhya School of Thought.
His pioneering work threw light on principles of the ultimate Soul (Purusha), primal matter (Prakruti), and creation.
Sankhya Darshan is defined as Meditation or Dhyaan, the state of mind that remains without any subjectivity/objectivity – without any thought is called meditation.

Rishi Kanva – The Science of Wind – The great Sage Kanva explained science behind wind in some of the sections of Rigveda. Vedas described 48 different forms of winds produced due to lightning.

Baudhayana was a great Mathematician and the author of the Sulba Sutra consisting several mathematical results. He discovered the value of the Pi.

He also discovered Pythagoras Theorem in Sulba Sutra.
In Sulba Sutra, he also stated that if a and b are the two sides and c is the hypotenuse, such that a is divisible by 4.
The other theorems include the diagonals of rectangle bisecting with each other and diagonals of rhombus bisecting at right angles.

Rishi Agastya – Father of the Electric Battery

He stated various theories to generate clean energy thereby providing electricity with natural resources. The modern battery we use today uses the same principle.
Rishi Agastya used an earthen pot, copper plate, copper sulfate, wet sawdust, and zinc amalgam. When a cell prepared according to Agastya Samhita, gave an open circuit voltage of 1.138 volts and a short circuit current of 23 mA.
He also discovered a way to polish gold, copper, and silver with a battery.